Local school promotes dyslexia awareness in October

One in 10 people have symptoms of dyslexia, which means they struggle with written and spoken language and it can show up in many different ways, including spelling.

In October, there is an increased effort to educate the general public about dyslexia. People like Jay Leno, Will Smith and George Clooney are dyslexic.

The International Dyslexia Association is based in Baltimore. During dyslexia awareness month, one of the nation's top schools for children with learning challenges, Jemicy Upper School in Baltimore County, is doing its part to get the word out, especially to parents.

"When I first got here, I wasn't really good at reading and writing, but I really excelled in math," student Noah Coates said.

Jemicy said its mission is to educate talented and bright students struggling with dyslexia or other language-based learning differences.

"I'm amazing at it. I can do paragraphs, I can write papers. I love to read. Right now, I'm on the 'Hunger Games' series and I can't put down the book," Coates said.

To the head of the school, Ben Shifrin, the progress is no surprise.

"These are students who really get the big picture. Comprehension is not an issue. In fact, they tend to be gifted in comprehension and understanding the world. They just struggle with the mechanics of language," Shifrin said.

"The teachers help you, and we use smart boards, and it's hands-on. They really care. They care that you do well," student Helen Chiamulera said.

The international association is trying to help spread the word to even more parents about the warning signs, including Laura Karney, whose son had been showing signs of dyslexia.

"The pre-tests were coming home on Monday with some crazy inventive nontraditional spelling patterns, which I started to watch. By Friday, he had memorized and done beautifully on the spelling test. At that point, it was not a red flag for the school," Karney said.

Karney had her son tested. This year, he enrolled in the Jemicy School. Students at the school will be the first to tell you why the school and its learning programs are making a difference.

"They are more hands-on. They definitely cover the class more. If you have a question, since it's a very small class, they will go over it with you as much as you need to," student Matt Colwill said.

In a few weeks, the International Dyslexia Association will conduct its annual conference in Baltimore.

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